Having recently moved into a new apartment, I’ve been on the prowl for some pretty things to decorate the living room. Mirrors have always been a necessity for me when it comes to decor. Whether you’re trying to make a small space appear larger or trying to add an elegant decorative touch to a hallway, a mirror is the perfect solution. Doing a quick search under the home decor section on beso.com gave me more than 3,000 results on mirrors! Here are a few of my favorite mirrors from beso:

If you love the mid-century/retro look, this Sunlight Mirror from Horchow is a great statement piece.  It even has a built in light so you can brighten up any dark walls with a bit of sunshine.

Sunlight Mirror from Horchow, $143.90

How cute is this next mirror? It’s the Antiqued Birdcage Mirror from Ballard Designs. This is a great piece to add a bit of that rustic, vintage feel to any home.  Plus, I can’t resist the little birds resting on the metal birdcage.

This Shell Mirror from Country Curtains has me thinking about shabby chic, beach-house decor. I love the scalloped edges; they remind me of a dainty white doily.

Mirrors can also make a bold statement piece, like this Edward Floor Mirror from Neiman Marcus. It’s oversized antique frame gives it an elegant finish, and it’d be perfect near the front door so you can take a quick, full length look at yourself before you’re out the door.

Edward Floor Mirror by Neiman Marcus, $1,119

Many of us find our most unique fashion pieces at trendy, hidden boutiques.  Trouble is, when life gets busy, we don’t always have time to trek to these places to score the newest items when they first arrive.  I love the idea of being able to shop for all of my favorite boutique items in one place.  Lucky for me, the people at farfetch.com share a similar vision.

I spoke with Marketing Director Paul Brine to find out what farfetch.com has to offer, as well as some of his personal “must-haves” for this year.  Herewith is what Paul had to say:

Q&A:

beso: Tell us about the farfetch.com philosophy and the idea behind the site.

Paul Brine: In 2001, farfetch.com founder José Neves helped open a boutique in London called b Store.  He found that when entering the world of e-commerce, marketing a smaller store wouldn’t be easy.  José came up with the idea of a site that would pull all the boutiques together, because they all had a different voice.  farfetch.com began with just 20 stores.

b: Luxe, Lab, and Cult are three ways to shop farfetch.  Tell us how you came up with the idea for these categories and what treasures we would find in each.

PB: These [categories] were José’s idea.  We had a massive list of over 200 labels, in which some were casual and some avant-garde.  We needed a way to separate them.  Luxe is high-end, well known designers.  Lab is up-and-coming and avant-garde designers.  Cult is more casual, like denim and diffusion lines.

b: Are there any plans to expand farfetch.com to include more than U.S. and European boutiques?

PB: Yes, we are working with Brazilian boutiques right now.  We plan to have these out within the next six months.

b: Your site not only carries exclusive designer fashions, but also lifestyle items.  What are some of your favorite pieces?

PB: I like the Snake and Skull Candle by D.L. & Co. because it’s very gothic.  I also like these prints by a company called Jaguar Shoes, which feature various artists’ work.

b: What are some of your favorite fashion “must-haves” right now?

PB: For women, Pierre Hardy shoes.  They have these silver metallic wedges with lots of straps.  There are also these brass cuffs made by Givenchy.  For men, Henrik Vibskov sweaters, which are colorful and have big faces on them.  I also like the Opening Ceremony Desert boots.

b: What hot men’s accessories are key for summer 2010?

PB: Sunglasses.  The Zanzan Zazou sunglasses are very retro and handmade in France, so they are great quality.

b: Who are some of your favorite designers?

PB: For women, it’s Christopher Kane.  For men, I like Martin Margiela and Robert Geller. 

b: Name the one item you have acquired from farfetch.com that you cannot live without.

PB: I have a shirt by Blaak Homme.  It’s a navy shirt with white polka dots.

b: Who would be your ideal celebrity spokesperson for farfetch?

PB: It’s hard to pin it on just one.  We would love to have Lara Stone.  She is a Dutch model who has a lot of personality.

b: With over 400 designers on the site, can you tell us some of the most popular lines right now?

PB: Right now the top is Alexander McQueen.  Although he has always been a top designer, with his recent death we have seen an increase.  Opening Ceremony is big, too;  we have a lot of their shoes on the site and they sell very well.  Henrik Vibskov’s whole collection is on the site and has become a real cult label.  All of these items are hard to find.

b: What do you think it is about your site that keeps people coming back for more?

PB: The sheer amount of products found here.  You can get lost in there for hours!  We add new items every day, so you can come back next week and find all new things.  Also, we have many exclusive brands that you just can’t find anywhere else.

b: Lastly, we’d like to know — What’s your beso?  My beso is “be so unique.”

PB: I’d say our beso is “be so individual.”

- Dana for beso

Sometimes it’s nice to keep things simple. Here is a minimalist approach to updating your home with a fresh look with year-round appeal.

This Nautica Blue Grass duvet cover comes in the perfect shade of pale blue for a soothing addition to any bedroom.

Sharp, clean lines in your bathroom hardware and accessories are also a great minimalistic way to update the home.  This American Standard soap dispenser would be a nice touch to any bathroom.

Minimalist makes me think sleek, and this glass coffee table is definitely that. A metal criss-cross base and no fuss make it an easy piece to incorporate into your living room.

For as long as I can remember, my mom has been giving me keepsake boxes for birthdays, holidays, or simply just because. I’ve grown quite a collection over the years since I tend to fall a little on the sentimental side and just can’t bring myself to part with all of them. When I was younger, they were mostly religious-themed or included some image or figure of a cat. Thankfully, in recent years, my mom has grasped a better understanding of my style and sticks to flowery designs or something more traditional. This past Christmas, she sent me a (much needed) classic wood jewelry box with a photo display on the lid. And, whether it was her intention or not, I think of her whenever I put on a pair of earrings.

If you’re looking for a gift or just need a place to store your own little treasures, here are some wonderful little boxes available at beso.

Handmade Black Leather Chinese Empire Jewelry Box
Overstock.com
$49.99
I absolutely love the curvature of this box as well as the detailed imagery.

 

 

Personalized Vintage Glass Jewelry Box With Custom Poem
personalization.com
$35.95
This vintage style trinket box would make a great gift since you can add a custom poem to make it really special.

Lily Pad Jewelry Stand
RedEnvelope
$39.95
I love, love, love this piece! It’s so simple yet graceful and would definitely add a nice touch to any bureau or nightstand.

Looking for something sweet to do for your honey this weekend?  Yes, Valentine’s Day was last weekend, but romance should be spontaneous and not just a one time of year event.  What about breakfast in bed?! Need a little inspiration? Well, that’s what your beso buddies are here for!

When planning the perfect way to pamper your significant other, the first thing to think about is the menu. To that end, I’ve included a scrumptious recipe for buttermilk pancakes, from Bon Appetite. If you want to make them a little pinkish, substitute raspberries or strawberries instead of blueberries, or add a little berry yogurt and hold back a bit of the buttermilk:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for cooking
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• Pure maple syrup

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 250°F. Place baking sheet in oven. Whisk first 4 ingredients in large bowl. Whisk buttermilk, eggs, and 2 tablespoons butter in medium bowl; stir into dry ingredients. Fold in berries.

Heat large nonstick griddle or skillet over medium heat; brush with butter. Drop batter by 1/3 cupfuls onto griddle. Cook pancakes until brown, brushing griddle with more butter as needed, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to sheet in oven to keep warm. Serve pancakes with maple syrup.

To make this an even better surprise, try cooking the pancakes in a heart-shaped mold, such as these, from Norpro:

To add balance, I suggest pairing the pancakes with a protein of some sort – whether that’s turkey/chicken, pork or tofu sausage, bacon or eggs is up to you. A nice dish of fruit, in addition to the fruit in the pancakes, makes a lovely side. So does a champagne cocktail!

So…how to serve…

First, you will need a tray, like this Bamboo serving table:

If you’re making a breakfast meat, you can present this on the same plate as the pancakes, but the fruit ought to be plated separately, in its own little dish. Not only will this add a pretty distribution of color on the serving tray, it will also keep the syrup from coating the fruit and making a big, goopy, too-sweet mess!

Warm the syrup and pour it into a graceful creamer or sauce pitcher, like this one from Mikasa:

Place a single red rose into a bud vase. Depending on your style, you might like either crystal or brushed stainless steel:

Tuck a delicate napkin to the left side of the pancake plate. Top with a fork, and place a knife and spoon on the other side of the plate.

Fill a champagne flute with a beverage of choice (sparkling wine/champagne alone or with orange or cranberry juice). Add a fresh violet, to rest just on top of the liquid, if available in your area (yes! they’re edible!).

Add a cup of coffee or tea, if that is what your true love’s heart desires.

Viola! If your sugar didn’t love you before, this ought to do the trick.